[3] At Cambridge, he concentrated on Wagner studies with John Deathridge and general musical education with Robin Holloway.
He also conducted all of the main Cambridge University orchestras and organised concerts of new music at Kettle's Yard.
As a pianist, he attended courses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the International Musicians Seminar in Cornwall.
Following his debut at English National Opera in 1998, he took up the post of Staff Conductor at San Francisco Opera for three years, conducting a wide variety of repertoire and assisting Donald Runnicles, Valery Gergiev and Sir Charles Mackerras.
[1] He has conducted four productions with Graham Vick's Birmingham Opera Company,[5] and has collaborated often with stage director Christopher Alden.